The UK may be the world's fifth largest economy, but our level of ambition signalled by the publication of the EU's renewables targets sends a very strong signal that we are prepared to slide further down that scale (Carrot and stick approach to enforcing cuts, January 24). Coming 18th out of 27 EU states in the renewables league table leaves us looking dangerously unwilling to modernise.

The government's excuses don't stack up. Its refusal to intervene in markets - as it clearly believes Germany has done - contradicts John Hutton's praise, during debate on the energy bill, for that country's single-minded and successful approach. The idea that we don't "pick winners" is confounded by the government's announcement that it will only back one form of carbon capture and storage. And its continued but imprecise attachment to nuclear shows that we are likely to retain a contradictory energy policy. We must also ask how much of the UK's 15% target the government would wish to trade its way out of.Colin Challen MP, Lab, Morley and Rothwell

Unfortunately, when it comes to transport, the EU's proposals are all carrot and no stick. While the European biofuels industry is set to benefit from demand guaranteed by Brussels, as well as handsome subsidies and tax breaks, there is little requiring it to source its biofuels responsibly in return. In particular, there are no standards to protect people from land-grabs and human-rights abuses in poor countries as companies scramble to supply the new target.

What should have been an opportunity for sustainable development is now a huge threat. Given this, and the recent revelations from the EU's scientific research body that the biofuels target may not deliver any carbon savings at all, the commission's decision to plough on regardless is indefensible.Phil Bloomer, campaigns and policy director, Oxfam

Your leader (January 24) rightly states that the EU's new climate change package doesn't go far enough. However, MEPs from my group will be doing all we can to strengthen it. First, the targets need to be based on a minimum 30% reductions target, not 20%. Second, the 10% biofuel target is contradictory, since evidence from the EU's agencies demonstrates that the expansion of mass monoculture biofuels is having a hugely detrimental impact on communities.

We also want to see all sectors pay for emission permits. If intensive energy sectors genuinely face unfair competition in global markets, that should be remedied via a climate levy, with revenues being channelled into a climate adaptation fund - not by handing them free permits.

Finally, since efficiency measures have the potential to save over 30% of all UK energy used, they must be placed at the heart of the whole climate package.Dr Caroline Lucas MEP, Green, South East England

The EU's energy-reduction package will see a cost of £3 a week for every consumer in Britain. This may be the straw that will break the camel's back for those already so reduced by poverty that they are least guilty of excessive energy consumption. Those rich enough to consume energy in vast quantities will not notice an extra £3 a week.Robert Dewar, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire

The EU commissioner for energy says that biofuels are the "most immediately feasible" way of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from cars (MPs' warning on biofuels angers Brussels, January 22).

Among the many problems associated with biofuels is that they are not widely available. The most efficient way to reduce emissions, in the long and short term, is to set and enforce lower speed limits. This could be done immediately. Lower speeds would reduce both the volume of traffic and fuel consumption and emissions.

We also need to change the cars themselves. This would take time, but the commitment could be made straight away. One of the most important functions of government in a market economy is to set rules to ensure that firms can compete for custom only in ways which respect the environment and the rights of third parties. Vehicle regulation is the responsibility of the EU. By not acting to limit the weight and power of cars, the EU is failing in this vital duty.Stephen Plowden , London

It is becoming increasingly clear that biofuels for transport have a rather questionable role in combating climate change. Biomass for electricity generation probably has a more honourable contribution to make, particularly if we use waste materials as source. However, I believe we are missing out on a serious enhancement to facing up to climate change: the humble hedgerow tree. There are thousands of miles of hedgerows that are annually battered into submission by flail trimming. The Victorian smallholder regarded his hedgerows as a source of food, fuel and fodder in times of shortage. With appropriate mixed planting we can produce more wood for local virtually carbon-neutral fuel and construction. Hedgerows have numerous other benefits, including reducing soil erosion and increasing biodiversity, and have little negative impact on crop yields.Stephen Parkinson, Woodbridge, Suffolk

Marine Hyde highlights the importance of relevance in studying geography (This new geography is about far more than scree, January 19). If we want to understand why setting international controls on CO2 emissions is so challenging, using a world map based on a country's carbon emissions is a good starting point. Alternatively, if we want to understand global wealth, showing countries in relative size to their wealth is ideal - and in this map Africa appears to be almost absent.Steve Brace, Head of education, Royal Geographical Society